Walsall

Walsall's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure, marriage and health.

The population reached nearly 270,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Walsall increased by 6.2%, from just over 253,000 to 269,000.

The addition of just under 16,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Walsall was home to, on average, 18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Walsall

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Walsall increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This multi-cultural area had a slightly higher average age than the West Midlands and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 6,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 5,000.

About 14% of people in Walsall are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Walsall by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

Walsall saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of unemployed people.

In 2011, just over 1 in 15 (6.8%) people aged 16 to 74 in Walsall said they were unemployed, compared with 4.4% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 51% to 49%.

The largest increase occurred in Barking and Dagenham (from 4.5% to 7.3%) followed by Wolverhampton (from 5.3% to 7.9%).

The rate of unemployment in Walsall increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Walsall, the West Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Walsall

The number of people in Walsall that described themselves as Sikh increased from about 7,700 in 2001 to about 12,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 3.0% to 4.3% of the local population.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people from this religious group fell from 2.0% to 2.4%, while across England the percentage went from 0.7% to 0.8%.

The number of people in Walsall that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 180,000 in 2001 to about 160,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 59%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 25,000 to about 54,000 (from 10% to 20%).

Just over 22,000 people (5.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 14,000 in 2001 (8.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Sikh in Walsall increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Walsall by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Walsall

The percentage of Walsall residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.9% to 6.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 20 (5.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.2% in 2001. The percentage of Walsall residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.1% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Walsall that rented privately increased from 4.9% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in four (24%) households lived in social housing, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of Walsall households that owned their home decreased from 64% to 62%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Walsall increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Walsall, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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